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A visit to the Willis Cemetery ...

Introduction ...

Note: We have organized the cemeteries in our Gazetteer based on a problem that we had while working on our own genealogy. Without specifying the cemeteries involved, we found an ancestor that we believed to have been buried in one cemetery was actually buried elsewhere.

We discovered that his burial had been refused at the last moment and the family had scrambled to make new arrangements. By looking at nearby cemeteries, the surrounding communities and in newspapers of the period, we were finally able to locate his burial site.

Should you find yourself in the same situation, we hope that our Gazetteer helps you discover your lost ancestor.

The Location of the Willis Cemetery ...

Note: The GPS location that we are using for the Willis Cemetery can be traced back to the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)<1>

We are using the following GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) for the Willis Cemetery

Lat:   36.9637°   (36° 57' 49")

Lon:   -80.0681°   (-80° 4' 5")

The Willis Cemetery is located in Franklin County<2>.

The county seat for Franklin County is located in Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount lies 9 miles [14.5 km]<3> to the east northeast of the Willis Cemetery .

List of nearby cemeteries ...

Based on our list of cemeteries, we know of 26 that are within 4 miles [6.4 km] of the Willis Cemetery.<4>

We've listed the following cemeteries based on their distance from Willis Cemetery, with the nearest first.

  • Helms Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Helms Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Helms Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Helms Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Phoebe Needles Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Phoebe Needles Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Phoebe Needles Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Phoebe Needles Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Webb - Hale Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Webb - Hale Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Webb - Hale Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Webb - Hale Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Foster Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Foster Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Foster Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Foster Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Saunders Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Saunders Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Saunders Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Saunders Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Price Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Price Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Price Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Price Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Webb Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Webb Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Webb Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Webb Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Agee Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Agee Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Agee Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Agee Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Guilliams Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Guilliams Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Guilliams Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Guilliams Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Peters Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Peters Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Peters Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Peters Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Carter Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Carter Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Carter Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Carter Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Cooper Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Cooper Cemetery
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Cooper Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • The Cooper Cemetery is located in Franklin County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Richards Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Richards Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Richards Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Richards Cemetery is located in Franklin County
      • Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #2650256 <5>
    • Webb Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Webb Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Webb Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Webb Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Huff Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Huff Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Huff Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Huff Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Brogan Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Brogan Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Brogan Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Brogan Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Ray Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Ray Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Ray Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Ray Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Spencer Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Spencer Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Spencer Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Spencer Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Goode Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Goode Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Goode Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Goode Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Young Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Young Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Young Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Young Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Carter Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Carter Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Carter Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Carter Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Feazell Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Feazell Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Feazell Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Feazell Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Hurt - Ferguson Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Hurt - Ferguson Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Hurt - Ferguson Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Hurt - Ferguson Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Stanley Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Stanley Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Stanley Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Stanley Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Piedmont Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Piedmont Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Piedmont Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Piedmont Cemetery is located in Franklin County
    • Prillaman Cemetery
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the north)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for the Prillaman Cemetery
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for the Prillaman Cemetery have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • The Prillaman Cemetery is located in Franklin County

For an expanded list with details, please visit our List of cemeteries.

List of neighboring communities ...

The following 26 communities are within 10 miles [16.1 km]<3> of the Willis Cemetery.

We've listed the following communities based on their distance from Willis Cemetery, with the nearest first.

  • Ferrum
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)
  • Prilliman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Prilliman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Prilliman
    • Prilliman is located in Franklin County
  • Hickman
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Hickman. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickman
    • Hickman is located in Franklin County
  • Algoma
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Algoma
    • Algoma is located in Franklin County
  • Barfoot
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the east)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Barfoot
    • Barfoot is located in Franklin County
  • Pizarro
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the west)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pizarro
    • Pizarro is located in Floyd County
  • Dodson
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Dodson. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dodson
    • Dodson is located in Patrick County
  • Rocky Mount
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
  • Gogginsville
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Gogginsville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gogginsville
    • Gogginsville is located in Franklin County
  • Simpsons
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Simpsons
    • Simpsons is located in Floyd County
  • Henry
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Haycock
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Haycock. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Haycock
    • Haycock is located in Floyd County
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Bent Mountain
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the north)
    • Charity
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Charity. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Charity
      • Charity is located in Patrick County
    • Oak Level
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Oak Level have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Level
      • Oak Level is located in Henry County
    • Sydnorsville
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sydnorsville
      • Sydnorsville is located in Franklin County
    • Boones Mill
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Terrys Fork
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Terrys Fork
      • Terrys Fork is located in Floyd County
    • Poff
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Poff
      • Poff is located in Floyd County
    • Floyd
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Bassett
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Redwood
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Redwood
      • Redwood is located in Franklin County
    • Villa ‑ Historic
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Villa have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Villa
      • Villa is located in Franklin County
    • Elamsville
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Elamsville. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elamsville
      • Elamsville is located in Patrick County
    • Reed Creek Village
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Reed Creek Village have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Reed Creek Village
      • Reed Creek Village is located in Henry County
    • Alleghany Springs
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Alleghany Springs. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<7>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Alleghany Springs
      • Alleghany Springs is located in Montgomery County

For the full list of neighboring communities with details, please visit our extended List of Communities.

Nearby communities with newspapers ...

The following communities are those where newspapers have been published and are located in the vicinity of the Willis Cemetery. Unless otherwise noted, the following communities are located in Franklin County.

More information can be found on our list of Local Newspapers for The Willis Cemetery.

We've listed the following communities alphabetically.

Websites to help with your research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we first turn to the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These helpful websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their websites are open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that might help with the Willis Cemetery:

Miscellaneous References and Mentions ...

Our approach is to add the name of a cemetery whenever we see it mentioned - usually from newspapers, old books and maps. Typically we have little information to start with, but we continue to add detail as we find it.

We've created the following list to keep track of the sources that we found useful for the Willis Cemetery:

  • Referenced GNIS Record ...
  • GNIS ID #1791278  (Willis Cemetery)
    • Note: GNIS record #1791278 has been archived by the USGS. It is no longer maintained by the USGS, nor can it be retrieved from their website.
    • Class: cemetery         Map Name: Ferrum
    • County: Franklin         Elev: 429
    • Location given for GNIS #1791278 (Willis Cemetery)

The official website for Franklin County: www.franklincountyva.org/

The official website for State of Virginia: https://www.virginia.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>If you're interested in how the shape of Virginia's counties, including Franklin, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- ) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point at the Willis Cemetery. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 36.9637, Longitude: -80.0681       In this case, the coordinates for the Willis Cemetery have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>While we have an extensive database of cemeteries (with over 200,000 entries), you can be assured that it's not complete and our list will be missing cemeteries.
<5>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<6>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<7>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.




 

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This page was last modified/updated: 22 Apr 2025